Madonna spoke candidly to Rolling Stone in 1989 about the guilt that she had at the time when she wrote the song, because of the teachings of her Catholic faith. The lyrics of “Like a Prayer” combine those feelings of guilt with her open sexuality. The lyrics put the penitent act of praying next to the intensely sexual activity of performing fellatio on a male sex partner. Her mood in 1988 was subdued and pensive. Her marriage to Sean Penn had disintegrated in a hail of fights, and she had suffered terrible reviews when it came to the movies in which she starred. Donna De Lory, Madonna’s backup singer and a good friend of hers, told the Guardian that her divorce had soured her outlook on life but also that recording “Like a Prayer” refocused her and was her salvation.
Background Information
Pop singer and artist Madonna’s groundbreaking song, ‘Like a Prayer’ was released in 1989 as a lead single of her album of the same name. The music video of the song was directed by Mary Lambert who has worked extensively with Madonna and has directed six music videos for her, including this one. Lambert is a reliable source for providing insights about the background story and the making of the song.
During an interview, she once told how they conceived the controversial idea of including the portrayal of a Black Jesus. She recalls how Madonna wanted to add elements infusing sex with religious meaning, and finally, they ended up depicting a Black Jesus with sexual annotations, resonating with the duality of a specific line in the track. The fusion of sex and religious meaning in the video and a line of the track stirred society and experienced significant backlash after it was released. Eventually, the video and Madonna ended up hurting the religious sentiments of many. But that’s something she never wanted to do.
At that time, it was the love of the general public that made the single rank as billboard no.1. And to this date, Madonna receives the same amount of love from her fans. However, despite the love that the track got from every general man and woman, it was extensively denounced by the Vatican and the Pope for its music and lyrics. It was mainly because of the duality in the lyrics and the meaning of the track, which angered the people coming from religious sects.
Madonna believes that the controversial representation of the song was not meant to hurt sentiments but was shot to do justice to the overall idea and story of the song, which she wrote when she was at the most vulnerable stage of her life. Still, people found hidden sexual meaning in the line mentioning the crouch for prayer. They believe that the crouch clearly symbolizes a sexual activity.
The song also used choir music, much to the dislike of the Popes and AFA. However, the common man loved the music of the album.
Controversy
The Catholic Church was unimpressed with the video that went with the song because not only did she make out with a Black saint in the film, but the video also shows the Ku Klux Klan burning crosses and other unfavorable depictions of religion. Even in 1988, the thought of an interracial couple rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. The Vatican’s vitriolic response upset Pepsi so much that not only did they pull the commercial Madonna had made for them, but they also allowed her to keep the $5 million advance they had given her just so that she wouldn’t file suit. Apart from Pepsi, the video also angered the ultra-conservative American Family Association, to which Madonna responded that, in her opinion, art should be controversial. The AFA’s ire was the height of irony, though, considering that evangelist Jimmy Swaggart had his liaison with the prostitute in 1988, disgustingly asking if the woman’s 9-year-old daughter could watch. Even when the song appears in movies, it’s mired in controversy. The song was featured in the 1997 movie “Gummo,” which is an experimental film focusing on animal cruelty, elder abuse, and other questionable topics.
Billboard No. 1
After the song’s release on March 3, 1989, it shot straight to the top of the Billboard 100 where it stayed for multiple weeks. It achieved No. 1 status in countries all around the world, too, including Canada, New Zealand, Spain, and the United Kingdom. The impressive performance on the charts, along with the effect of the song, spurred critics to begin seeing Madonna as an artist and not just a pop star.
Lyrics
Life is a mystery
Everyone must stand alone
I hear you call my name
And it feels like home
When you call my name, it’s like a little prayer
I’m down on my knees, I wanna take you there
In the midnight hour, I can feel your power
Just like a prayer, you know I’ll take you there
I hear your voice
It’s like an angel sighin’
I have no choice
I hear your voice
Feels like flying
I close my eyes
Oh God I think I’m fallin’
Out of the sky
I close my eyes
Heaven help me
When you call my name, it’s like a little prayer
I’m down on my knees, I wanna take you there
In the midnight hour, I can feel your power
Just like a prayer, you know I’ll take you there
Like a child
You whisper softly to me
You’re in control
Just like a child
Now I’m dancing
It’s like a dream
No end and no beginning
You’re here with me
It’s like a dream
Let the choir sing
When you call my name, it’s like a little prayer
I’m down on my knees, I wanna take you there
In the midnight hour, I can feel your power
Just like a prayer, you know I’ll take you there
When you call my name, it’s like a little prayer
I’m down on my knees, I wanna take you there
In the midnight hour, I can feel a power
Just like a prayer, you know I’ll take you there
Life is a mystery
Everyone must stand alone
I hear you call my name
And it feels like home
Just like a prayer (oh-oh), your voice can take me there (oh-oh)
Just like a muse to me (oh-oh), you are a mystery (oh-oh)
Just like a dream (oh-oh), you are not what you seem
Just like a prayer, no choice your voice can take me there
mmm mm
(Just like a prayer, I’ll take you there) I’ll take you there
(It’s like a dream to me) whoa oh-oh-oh
(Just like a prayer, I’ll take you there) I’ll take you there
(It’s like a dream to me) oh yeah, oh yeah yeah yeah yeah
(Just like a prayer, I’ll take you there) oh yeah yeah yee
(It’s like a dream to me) whoa oh-oh
Just like a prayer, your voice can take me there (just like a prayer)
Just like a muse to me, you are a mystery (your voice can take me there)
Just like a dream, you are not what you seem (just like a prayer)
Just like a prayer, no choice your voice can take me there
Just like a prayer, your voice can take me there (just like a prayer)
Just like a muse to me, you are a mystery (your voice can take me there)
Just like a dream, you are not what you seem (just like a prayer)
Just like a prayer, no choice your voice can take me there
your voice can take me there
(Your voice can take me there) just like a prayer
(Just like a prayer)
(Just like a prayer)
(Your voice can take me there)
(Just like a prayer)
(Just like a prayer)
(Your voice can take me there)
(Just like a prayer)
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Madonna / Patrick Leonard
Like a Prayer lyrics © Wb Music Corp., Emi Blackwood Music Inc., Webo Girl Publishing, Inc.
Listeners of Pop music, might also appreciate the song Old Town Road by Lil Nas x.
This article was first published April 20, 2023 and last updated June 2, 2023
